UMemphis tech-transfer accelerates

At the University of Memphis, FedEx Institute of Technology Executive Director Shaye Mandle says tech transfer and commercialization are on the verge of 'exploding', after years of relative inattention. The Memphis Daily News reports.

Newsbits

CoreTech Park near Lebanon in Wilson County could employ 1,000 'Green' industry workers within a few years. Our story's here.

Transcard, the Chattanooga-based provider of stored-value cards, yesterday announced the appointment of Jerry Uffner as its new president. Earlier this month, Transcard announced appointment of Brad Townsend as CFO...

VNC's report on Vanderbilt's response to The Tennessean's report on the health of the VU endowment is here...

Nearly 15 years after it launched www.Fedex.com, FedEx announced this week a major upgrade of its parcel-tracking technology...

Oak Ridge NL is strategizing how best to absorb additional resources it seems destined to receive as part of the nation's stimulus program...

Private-equity investors have put Brentwood-based PetDRx on a short leash, to keep the company out the hands of those looking for dog stocks.

Venture Forum model for Nashville eyes

In Memphis last week, 22 fledgling companies presented their business plans to an audience of about 200 gathered at the FedEx Institute of Technology, for the 6th Annual Musculoskeletal New Ventures Conference (MNVC). The co-sponsors are Memphis Bioworks Foundation (MBF) and MB Venture Partners. This is the kind of thing that might one day occur in Nashville, if the Chamber and Partnership 2010 continue on their path toward creating a 'Virtual Entrepreneur Center'. The closest thing we have, right now, is the general business plan competition conducted biannually by the Nashville Business Incubation Center (NBIC).